Most wine label orders we see are for labels for the front of a wine bottle. Front wine labels are perfect for gifts and one time gatherings like weddings, corporate events, or parties, but if you’re a serious home winemaker or are a wine start-up you may need a label for the back of your wine bottle. If that’s you, I’ll discuss what sizes we offer and what kind of information winemakers put on the back label of a wine bottle. I’ll also show you some real-life examples from other homemade wine makers for inspiration.

Back label for a wine bottle –  custom made – 2″ wide by 3″ high

What is the most common label size for the back of a wine bottle?

There’s no wrong or right size for the back label of a wine bottle. Many of our customers like the back label to be a different size than the front label, usually smaller. The popular size for back labels seems to be a toss up between the 2” wide by 3” high rectangle and the 3” x 3” square. Some customers even choose to have the same label size for the front and back of the wine bottle, which works too. Below is an example of a customer’s order for a front label and back label and how the labels look side by side, then applied to a standard 750 ml wine bottle.

Front wine label 3.5″ w x 4″ h, back label 2″ w x 3″ h on a 750 ML bottle

What label sizes are offered for back labels?

We offer two shapes for labels to put on the back of wine bottles; square and rectangle. We do have circle and oval shapes, but most customers still opt for square or rectangle back labels. Under each of these shapes are the following size options; the first number is the width, the second number is the height and the measurements are in inches:

Square

• 3 x 3
• 4 x 4
• 5 x 5

Rectangle

• 2 x 3
• 3 x 2
• 2 x 4
• 4 x 2
• 3 x 4
• 4 x 3
• 4 x 6
• 6 x 4

Front and back wine label size pairing recommendations

You’ve worked diligently to make the perfect homemade wine and you want your wine bottle to look great. Presenting your bottle with both a front and back label looks professional.  The 3.5″ x 4″ wine label looks great with a 3″ x 3″ or 2″ x 3″ back label. If you’re choosing what we call the Large Wine Label (4″ wide by 6″ high) for your front label, you might like the standard wine label size 3.5″ wide by 4″ high for the back label to give it a balanced look. See below for reference.

Front label 4″ wide by 6″ high; back label 3.5″ wide by 4″ high on 750 ml bottle.

Below is an example of a customer order for back labels and front labels. This customer orders a large quantity once a year for the family wine and usually uses the same size label for the front and the back of the wine bottle. These wine labels were designed to honor a family member who immigrated from Italy.  The back label gives the details of the family wine making legacy starting from the 1890’s. Notice the ABV and the sulfite notice were included on the back label.

Front wine label and back wine label both 3.5″ w x 4″ h.

What information should be on the back label of a wine bottle?

According to an article by the academicwino.com there are certain things people expect on a the back label of a bottle they purchase. This isn’t necessarily the same information a home winemaker wants, but these are good points for you to consider. Here is what the article said:

“For the most part, front labels of wine bottles show the most essential (and often, legal) information for the consumer; including the winery name, grape variety and origin, the vintage year, and the alcohol content.  On the other side of the bottle, the back label will often show sensory characteristics (aroma, taste, etc), winery history information, and food pairings (among other things).  According to studies, the front and back labels of the wine bottle are the most effective ways to influence consumer choice.”

The back labels of wine bottles from home winemakers we’ve seen include several common themes and may have any or all of the following text:

• Story/dedication/history of the reason the wine was made
• Description of the grapes, including type and geographic location where they were grown
• The type of wine
• Who made the wine
• Who bottled the wine
• What year it was bottled
• If not included on the front label then the ABV and any information on additives like sulfites.
• A note to anyone who drinks the wine
• A photo, QR code, logo, or URL related to the wine or winemaking process

Here are three examples from customers who created back labels for their homemade wine. Note that each one has a story that is unique to their wine. Your wine most likely has a story as well. Think how you might like to share it on your label.

Examples of back labels for wine bottles from left to right: 3″ x 3″, 3.5″ x 4″, and 2″ x 3″

How To Make a Back Label for a Wine Bottle

You have three options for making a wine label for the back of your bottle.

1. Modify a template – Choose from any of our pre-made wine label designs or food label designs and modify the text and colors.
2. Create from scratch – Start at the Make Your Own link in the upper right of the website header and choose your shape and size. Then use the online designer to make your design. The designer lets you add graphics, photos, text, add color, even create a QR code.
3. Upload a design you made in a graphics program – If you have made your own artwork in another graphics program please be sure to follow our size specs which call for a .125″ bleed on all four sides of your design. Make sure your file is 300 pixels per inch for clear printing results and convert the file to a JPG or PNG format for uploading. TIF files and PDF files are problematic, so email them to us and ask us to convert them if you don’t know how. For this option you will also start at the Make Your Own link mentioned in option number two.

Selling Wine?

If you plan on selling wine then congratulations, you’ve moved to a whole new level and will need to follow TTB guidelines for approval. There’s more information for making a wine label following government standards in this post Making a Wine Label the TTB Will Approve.

If you need help choosing a size for the back of your wine bottle please feel free to live chat with us on our website weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm Pacific time, or email us at info at bottleyourbrand.com.